A new kind of neighborhood is appearing in many locations across our country. The growing success and popularity of planned neighborhoods is evidence of a widespread desire for more connection and community in our lives. Growing numbers live in the 100 cohousing neighborhoods across the US.
Cohousing is collaborative housing in which residents design and operate their own neighborhoods. Puget Sound has a dozen built cohousing communities with more on the way.
Unlike conventional housing, cohousing residents commit to living as a community with design encouraging social contact. Private homes contain most features of conventional homes, but residents also share common facilities such as open space, courtyards, a playground and a common house for social activities.
Old-fashioned sense of neighborhood
Cohousing is usually designed as attached or single-family homes with pedestrian courtyards. In Puget Sound, cohousing neighborhoods have from 8 to 33 residences. They all encourage casual connection between neighbors, as well as deliberate gatherings such as shared meals, celebrations, and meetings.
The common house is the community’s social center, with a large dining room and kitchen, recreation and children’s spaces, and frequently a guest room, and laundry room. Most serve optional shared meals—from two to five times a week. The need for members to take care of common property builds a sense of working together, trust and support.
In a cohousing community, you come to know everyone as you share common meals, decide how to use homeowner’s dues, and accept rides when your car is in the shop. You learn to trust and help each other. You listen to what others have to say, even if you don’t agree, and you learn that you, too, are truly being heard.
The cohousing idea originated in Denmark and was brought to the U.S. by architects Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett in the 1980s. The Danish concept is now spreading quickly in many countries, but most especially the U.S.
Cohousing residents often aspire to “improve the world, one neighborhood at a time.” This desire to make a difference often becomes a stated vision. For example, New Earth Song Cohousing, a forming group, has a vision of “forming sustainable community, creating a new kind of welcoming neighborhood committed to lifelong care for the Earth and each other.” New Earth Song plans homes that adjoin Songaia, an established Cohousing community of 15 homes near Bothell, WA.
Aging in Place in Cohousing
Many adults in cohousing view their communities as a great place to age. Diana Sorus, age 55, moved to Songaia Cohousing late in 2006. After helping her mother research Continuum of Care Centers, she visualized herself living in one, but – “I wanted to age in an intergenerational neighborhood where people look out for each other. Fortunately, I learned about cohousing and then found Songaia”.
While renting at Songaia, Diana helped form New Earth Song – this adult-focused group wants interaction with multi-generational Songaia (age 3-72). New Earth Song is currently sponsoring “Aging in Place Successfully” – a 10-week study group at Songaia. The 18 participants, age 50-75, are exploring aging well together – in their expanding cohousing neighborhood.
The study group is considering how new space might serve their progressing needs for support that sometimes accompanies aging. They are considering living quarters for home health aides, whose services may be shared by several residents. They hope members can remain in the community for all but major medical emergencies. While services and amenities may be added as needed by community seniors, one important feature is that the residents control their own lives, but that’s true of cohousing in general.
Craig Ragland, age 50, recently became the Executive Director of the Cohousing Association of the United States, after retiring from Microsoft. He helped create Songaia Cohousing where he has lived since 1992. Craig is also project manager for New Earth Song and can be reached at Craig@NewEarthSong.com.
Portions of this article were drawn from the Cohousing Website, http://www.cohousing.org, published by the Cohousing Association of the United States.
This article appeared in the April 2008 issue of Northwest Prime Time, the Puget Sound region’s monthly publication celebrating life after 50.
